IPL 2021: Andre Russell refuses to run Kyle Jamieson out at the non-striker's end in RCB vs KKR game

The Royal Challengers Bangalore continued with their sensational run in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League as they handed a 38-run defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Led by the magnificent AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli’s team had set 205 for the Riders to win. In response, they did have partnerships but none threatening enough to chase down a target of that magnitude.

KKR’s bowlers were sent to all corners of the Chepauk with a belligerent Maxwell and de Villiers operating in tandem. The duo added a brisk stand of 53 runs soon after Maxwell and Padikkal’s 86-run alliance was broken. In a serious onslaught, Maxwell bludgeoned nine fours and three sixes, before perishing to Pat Cummins in the 17th over, having scoring 78 off merely 49.

Even before Eoin Morgan could have thought to capitalize on the breakthrough, he had to witness a more destructive assault from de Villiers, who finished with as many sixes and fours as Maxwell, in a 34-ball 76 outing.

He targeted Andre Russell in particular, picking 17 runs off the Jamaican in the 18th over. Russell was not spared in the final over of the game either, where a berserk de Villiers struck him for three fours and six to score 21, and launched his team past 200.

Andre Russell leaves a run-out chance 

Having leaked runs aplenty in wicket-less spell, Russell weirdly decided to even leave the only chance that came his way to send an opponent batsman back. The closest he came to taking or effecting a wicket was during the final over the game, when coming round the wicket, he delivered a wide, low full-toss to AB, who swatted it back to him.

Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson, at the other end, had run down nearly 11 yards and was never going to get back had Russell opted to throw the ball at the stumps. He had enough time to perhaps even run and effect a run-out, if not for attempting a simple throw.

Although, quite inexplicably, Russell chose not to run Jamieson out and went back to bowl instead. Not that his action would have made any difference, with the event happening only at the third-last ball of RCB’s innings, but his decision certainly defied cricketing logic.

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— Aditya Das (@lodulalit001) April 18, 2021